We expect approximately 90 percent of our guests will be vaccinated. Cruising is slowly returning to the seas, and many cruise lines are now open or planning to reopen soon. This ensures you can sail stress-free knowing you wont have your voyage cut short due to any cruise vaccination policy when entering another state or territory. The reintroduced policy is effective immediately, and there is no announced end date for when it may be relaxed. Celebrity Cruises Most lines only accept vaccines recognized and approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. The line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. Aida Cruises, Ama Waterways, American Queen Steamboat Company, Azamara, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Viking are all open or planning to open soon. Passengers are encouraged to wear them . CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! All passengers over the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Dont Miss: Which Cruise Line Gives The Best Military Discount. Check your cruise lines website for more details. Its possible a cruise line may accept one shot of a viral vector vaccine, such as AstraZeneca, and one shot of an mRNA vaccine, but this practice of mixing for a COVID-19 vaccine primary series isnt authorized yet in the US. For those who are unvaccinated, pre-embarkation testing is required. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection welcomes all guests regardless of vaccination status. This simplifies the requirements to sail. View Best Prices on NCL, Royal Caribbean Starting on September 5, 2022, guests who are not vaccinated will be able to sail on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the worlds largest cruise line. Australia has been one of the more strict regions of the world with respect to pandemic cruise travel restrictions. In other health protocol-related news, last week Norwegian Cruise Line announced that as of today, it will be allowing unvaccinated kids under 12 to sail on its ships. There is no definitive answer as to when a vaccine requirement to go on a cruise ship may go away, but at the very least it stands to reason not until the public health emergency ends. Pre-boarding tests are not required for vaccinated guests. Kids two to five years old will still be required to wear masks in the kids club spaces and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. First and foremost, unvaccinated passengers of any age are allowed to sail the cruise line without having to first apply for an exemption as was previously required. Have no fear, we provide all the relevant links and information you need for all of the major cruise lines below. Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. A single shot of the Johnson & Johnson dose is ok, but still requires receiving it well in advance of sailing. Our Crew will remain fully vaccinated as they are now. Also Check: Best Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port Virgin Voyages Vaccine Policy Were still requiring that the majority of Sailors be vaccinated, but were opening up our voyages for a limited number of unvaccinated Sailors to join us. The changes are also subject to local requirements, and full vaccination requirements apply to passengers 12 and up while testing rules apply to those 5 and older. Treat those flights as domestic travel. All Contents Copyright 2022 Cruise Radio, Inc. | Website Designed by Insider Perks, Inc. Get the real facts delivered straight to your inbox, with trustworthy cruise related news. In addition, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian sail to a lot more ports than Virgin Voyages does, and cruise ships must also comply with local rules (and some destinations require vaccinations for anyone ages 12 and over even if they dont get off the ship. Carnival Cruise Line will no longer require pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages that are five nights or fewer beginning Aug. 4, the cruise line said Friday. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. VERIFY: Do cruise passengers have to show proof of vaccination? The guidance also makes it clear that 90% is what a high proportion of travelers means. As always, your safety is our first priority, so we will continue with our other protocols to keep you well while enjoying your relaxing vacation, the cruise line shared in the email. As long as Covid-19 remains a pandemic, it seems unlikely cruise lines will change protocols. So, will you need a vaccine to cruise? The cruise line said COVID vaccines will no longer be required for passengers 12 and older on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, and Disney Wonder cruise ships starting on Oct. 14. The line also warns that masks could be required by some ports of call its ships visit. Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may designate areas as only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required (e.g., casinos . However, with certain destinations still enforcing vaccine and/or testing requirements, be sure to research your cruise itinerary thoroughly before booking if you want to avoid potential restrictions in countries that have still not fully reopened to all travelers. Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. In turn, each operator has prepared their own cruise vaccination policy that is designed to work across all destinations they service. It must be noted that at this time, this policy only impacts Carnival cruises in Australia, and masks are not required on any Carnival ships in other regions. Main photo: a cruise ship docked near Grand Turk Island. There are a few exceptions. You May Like: How Big Are The Disney Cruise Ships. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. This is the link: Cruise News Today March 1, 2022 [VIDEO], Bookings Open For Royal Caribbeans 2023-24 Caribbean Cruises, guide to cruise lines mask policies article, Cruise News Recap | Week of February 5, 2023, Philippines Welcomes First International Cruise Ship in Three Years, Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations Now Available on Norwegian Cruise Line, https://cruiseradio.net/8-cruise-lines-drop-their-face-mask-requirements/. Alaska Disney River Viking Norwegian Caribbean Carnival Hawaii Viking Search CRUISEINFO CLUB CRUISEINFO CLUB Alaska Disney River Viking Norwegian Caribbean Carnival Hawaii Viking CRUISEINFO CLUB That meant they required just about everyone on board to have their shots, with few exceptions allowed for young children and people who cant be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. There are a few exceptions. Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days. Unvaccinated travelers may embark with a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days prior to embarkation. That number has come down from 95% and it was generally believed to be a number to account for kids too young to get vaccinated to be onboard. It must be noted, however, that there have been no reports of cases reported from cruise ships having severe symptoms or requiring hospitalization, with most individuals who return positive test results reporting no symptoms or only mild discomfort. Check with your specific cruise line for the latest information, keeping in mind that the rules can and do shift. And the rules are constantly changing. In most cases, no. One of the trickier questions to tackle is do cruises require vaccinations? Because the policy reads for the time being it is likely a temporary measure and will be redacted when possible. All other sailings require proof of vaccination and booster until further notice. Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed . As the health situation evolves, cruise lines are always adjusting their health and safety policies including whether guests need to wear masks onboard. Heres what you need to know. What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air filters and buffets have been eliminated. With more and more cruise lines dropping all COVID-related travel requirements, its back to cruising as usual. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. All guests and crew will be required to wear a mask onboard. As well, Sir Richard Bransons new cruise line Virgin Voyages also dropped its masking policy as of yesterday, February 28. Aug. 14, 2022 Four major cruise lines are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, according to USA Today. Some people waited to cruise until masks were no longer required while others wont step onboard until every covid-related protocol goes away. Cruising is a popular way to explore the world, and many travelers are eager to get back on the open seas. What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air filters and buffets have been eliminated. Vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers can go on all other cruises, with unvaccinated guests showing proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation. However, the cruise line did recently relax testing requirements for vaccinated passengers, with a reference that vaccine rules could also drop sometime in the future: MSC Cruises will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., with a goal to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests, while prioritizing the health and safety of its guests, crew and destinations.. Recommended Reading: When Can You Book Excursions On Disney Cruise. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International , Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH still require pre-cruise covid tests taken no more than two days before your cruise and that all guests ages 12-and-over provide proof of vaccination. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. Dont Miss: What Time Does The Victory Casino Cruise Sail. MORE: 8. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. Note that in some cases, the restrictions may depend on your departure point and the ships home port so always check before sailing. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. Typical bacon geek. But most major cruise lines dropped mask mandates earlier this year as COVID-19 cases worldwide dropped significantly. Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days prior to embarkation. In an abundance of caution in response to recent cases reported onboard cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line has reintroduced mandatory mask wearing policies for the cruise line's. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Crew Vaccinated? Masks continue to be required for unvaccinated guests in indoor public areas. On voyages that visit Greece or Italy, they are required on the ship when indoors. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. MSC also requires unvaccinated children between 2 and 5 to wear a mask when indoors. Also called a bivalent booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. Recommended Reading: When Are Cruise Ships Sailing Again. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. Royal Caribbean Group, which includes Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will welcome all travelers regardless of vaccination status beginning Sept. 5 as long as testing requirements are met, a spokesperson told USA Today. Check your airlines protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if youre flying before or after the cruise. Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return.. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. What is the Average Cost of a 7-Day Cruise? Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean* International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. COVID-19 vaccine exemptions at Carnivals Long Beach, California port will only be accepted for kids under age 12 and when required by US federal law due to religious beliefs or medical reasons. Policy: Masks are not required onboard, except for in a few select indoor locations. In the fall of 2022, many popular cruise lines dropped the requirement for passengers to be up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations. We previously reported in our guide to cruise lines mask policies article that a large number of brands would be dropping all mask requirements onboard their ships as of today. When the first cruises allowing Americans restarted in spring 2021, all major lines were sailing with at least 90% of passengers vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated travellers need to present the results of a medically administered PCR or antigen test taken less than 72 hours before boarding. Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity, also rolled back its testing requirements this month, following the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. Vaccinated travelers will not need to test before embarkation. Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a test within three days of leaving, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits. Disney rolled back its COVID vaccine requirement for passengers aged 5 to 11 in early September. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? Guests may also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party with results from within two days of embarkation, if they choose. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Do I need a vaccine to cruise? Hell of a Cruise:Highlighting the panic, failures of the COVID early days. Cruises from Florida and other ports of departure will still require the shot for those 12 and older in order to sail for the time being. Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless theyre traveling from or to a destination that requires it. Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need To Know, Cruise News Recap | Week of February 5, 2023, Philippines Welcomes First International Cruise Ship in Three Years, Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations Now Available on Norwegian Cruise Line. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH still require pre-cruise covid tests taken no more than two days before your cruise and that all guests ages 12-and-over provide proof of vaccination. As well, even if not required, Royal Caribbean asks that you still bring proof of vaccination to your cruise. No special request or exemption is need to sail unvaccinated. Younger passengers are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. You can also work with a local travel medicine clinic to determine what vaccinations or preventative measures are recommended based on your itinerary. Because you may visit multiple locations on a cruise, you need to know the requirements for all your ports of call. READ NEXT: Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need To Know. As with any rapidly changing scenario like this one, laws, and regulations change at a rapid pace, and this often affects your cruise vaccination requirements as well. If you have received one of these shots, then you should be good to go. On Royal Caribbean, theyre also required for all kids two and older (regardless of vaccination status) in the Adventure Ocean kids program. Check out our recap of youth immunization policies for details on cruise vaccination requirements for kids. As the United States has opened up again following the worst of the pandemic, many people have returned to a normal way of life. If youre flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas, or Canadian homeports, such as Vancouver and Montreal, you will need to carry a passport. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks are not required. However, Asia and Oceania, and some countries in Central and South America, still have stricter rules in place. Cruise lines have their own rules countries have their own rules. If Cruises Sail With Vaccinated & Unvaccinated Passengers, Is Everything Back to Normal? Go to Boards. fred o. Fred. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. Starting Sept. 3, 2022, unvaccinated passengers ages 12 and older (or guests who cannot or decline to present proof of vaccination), need to provide a medically administrated negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding. Unvaccinated Guests: Are not permitted aboard. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. All Contents Copyright 2022 Cruise Radio, Inc. | Website Designed by Insider Perks, Inc. Get the real facts delivered straight to your inbox, with trustworthy cruise related news. According to the Australian governments Department of Health and Aged Care, the country is experiencing a slight uptick in overall cases compared to previous months, with more than 54,000 new cases reported in the past week. Thats hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. All passengers will undergo a complimentary COVID-19 test during the pre-cruise hotel stay prior to embarkation. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. MORE: 8 Tips For Preparing to Cruise in 2022. These included recommendations that ships continue to require pre-cruise testing and for passengers to be vaccinated. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Carnival will now allow all passengers including those who are unvaccinated to sail freely as of September 6, 2022. It's important to note that while some cruise lines have relaxed their mask policies, they still require travelers to follow other safety protocols. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. General zombie trailblazer. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. Since the Australian restart, however, several ships have reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases, including cases among both guests and crew members. Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. All guests will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to boarding. This article was originally published in February 2022. In compliance with U.K. guidance, Fred. Carnival no longer requires masks on its ships. Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard, Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Oversold for Spring Break, Carnival Cruise Ship Will Offer Transatlantic Voyage After Dry Dock, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. Still, there are exceptions. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. Dont Miss: Cruise Ship With Go Kart Track. "Effective with sailings departing March 1 . Heres a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. Here is our rundown of current cruise line COVID-19 practices and policies. Crew Vaccinated? Just a few weeks prior, the line had opened its ships up to unvaccinated kids under 5. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. The CDC says cruise lines can't allow "self-guided or independent exploration" at ports, and tour companies must still follow COVID-19 protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing. There is no definitive answer as to when a vaccine requirement to go on a cruise ship may go away, but at the very least it stands to reason not until the public health emergency ends. The Disney Magic cruise ship will make the change on Nov. 7. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. As the threat of Covid-19 begins to diminish, there is a possibility cruise lines may relax health protocols, including allowing unvaccinated people to go on a cruise ship. View Best Prices on Carnival, Celebrity Cruises Starting on Monday, September 5, 2022, all guests will be able to sail on Celebrity cruise ships, even if not vaccinated. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. And, I would say that nobody wearing or not wearing masks were ever made to feel uncomfortable. AzamaraPassengers no longer need to take pre-travel Covid tests except where required by local restrictions. MSC Cruises As of September 1, 2022, MSC Cruises no longer requires U.S. citizens to be vaccinated. Click on your favorite cruise line below to find out. Heres what you need to know. Here's the current list of cruise lines that do not require Covid vaccines to sail, for travelers who cannot or choose not to get the shot. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. But now, little more than a year later, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has withdrawn its opt-in guidance for cruise lines, and many are now allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks may be required in public areas on the ship .